Search
Contact
Login
Share this article
IMPACT – MEDIUM
What is the change? As of Jan. 1, all three regions of Belgium have introduced a single work-and-residence permit system under the European Union directive that unifies work and residence permit procedures for non-EU/EEA workers across the EU.
What does the change mean? Each region will have its own rules regulating the issuance of work and residence permits, and employers should prepare to follow different processes, eligibility criteria, documentary requirements, validity periods, quotas or other rules for each region. Employers will initially be required to submit a single application for both work authorization and residence to the applicable region, and thereafter both the regional and federal immigration authorities will process the application.
Background: Under the new process, employers will need to submit a completed application with all supporting documentation to regional authorities, who will issue a conditional work authorization. The file is then transferred to federal immigration authorities to determine entry eligibility and approve issuance of a visa by the appropriate Belgian consulate. The single permit is then issued by the commune to authorize both work and residence and will be valid for up to three years, depending onthe employment contract or assignment letter.
The 2011 EU single permit directive aimed to simplify the work and residence permit process for non-EU/EEA nationals by unifying it into a single application system with common rules across the EU. Belgium did not meet the Dec. 25, 2013 deadline for member states to implement the directive into national law.
Analysis & Comments: Employers may experience delays as Belgian regional and federal authorities transition to the single-permit system, and companies should also prepare to comply with the varying rules in each region. Employers are also reminded that the directive requires that non-EU workers be afforded the same rights and working conditions as nationals of the host country.
Source: Deloitte LLP. Deloitte LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC303675 and its registered office at 1 New Street Square, London EC4A 3HQ, United Kingdom.
The State Department issued a correction of the Diversity Visa (DV) 2026 Federal Register notice. Key Points: The Federal Register…
The State Department has resumed full immigrant visa processing at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut for Lebanese family members of…
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators urged the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Labor to release the maximum…
President Biden released an extensive memorandum on the United States and artificial intelligence, providing further guidance on the…